Tank washing apparatus having oscillating nozzles



J. W. OREM April 23, 1968 TANK WASHING APPARATUS HAVING OSCILLATING NOZZLES Filed Jane 28, 196e 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY J. W. OREM April z3, 1968 TANK WASHING APPARATUS HAVING OSCILLATING NOZZLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1966 lNvENToR 9v/w55 M def/w ATTORNEY April 23, 1968 J. w. OREM 3,379,379

TANK WASHING APPARATUS HAVING OSCIALLATING NOZZLES Filed June 28, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 iNvENToR jk/145s Maze/14 Bfaljyvm.;

y ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,379,379 TANK WASHING APPARATUS HAVING SCILLATING NGZZLES James W. Orem, Red Bank, NJ., assigner to Butterworth System, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 28, 1966, Ser. No. 561,088 Claims. (Cl. 239-227) The present invention is concerned with a unique apparatus which is particularly adapted for cleaning the interior wall surfaces of a container vessel. The invention is especially concerned with a tank washing apparatus utilizing high pressure jet streams of a cleaning or washing liquid and impinging said jet streams against the interior surfaces of the container vessel. The invention is particularly concerned with a tank washing apparatus wherein the jet streams are directionally controlled and directed as to effectively clean predetermined areas within the container vessel. The invention, in essence, cornprises an improvement over the apparatus described in U.S. 2,917,243 patented Dec. 15, 1959 entitled, Tank Washing Apparatus, inventor, Leonard V. Lione.

It is known in the art to use various tank cleaning machines which function to wash the entire interior of the tank securing substantially uniform coverage, While these tank washing machines are satisfactory, they are deficient in that there are many kinds of tanks where the soil is not evenly distributed. Thus, the result is that in such tanks when utilizing conventional and known types of tank cleaning machines, the length of time they are sprayed or washed is a function of the time required to clean that part of the tank interior where there is the greatest concentration of soil. The more easily cleaned areas are overwashed, resulting in a waste of time and washing fluid which materially increases the cost of cleaning the interior of a tank. Furthermore, among other disadvantages due to overwashing is that the corrosion rate is materially increased.

In tanks where sedimentation occurs such as ship tanks, oil tankers, processing tanks, and the like, the tank bottoms are very often the most difficult part of the tank to clean because of the accumulations of diiiicultly removable sediments. Thus, in order to satisfactorily clean the tank bottoms, conventional tank cleaning machines must be operated for appreciably longer time periods than is necessary to clean the bulkheads and underdecks. For instance, with a tank having a cube configuration, approximately live-sixths of the cleaning uid is directed toward the sides and top of the tank and only one-sixth of the cleaning fluid is directed to the bottom of the tank where the maximum washing is required.

The present apparatus by its controlled directional flow will concentrate on those areas of the tanks where the maximum amount of washing is required and will only be used on those less soiled areas of the tanks to the extent to effectively and efficiently clean these less soiled areas. As indicated, this will result in large savings in the cleaning uid required, will reduce the time required for thoroughly cleaning the interior of a tank, and will reduce corrosion.

The apparatus of the present invention may be readily understood by reference to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the same. FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the apparatus with parts broken away and omitted for clarity. FIGURE 2 is a front view on a large scale taken on lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1, nozzles being shown in one position in full lines and in moved position in dot-dash lines. FIGURE 3 is a section on a broken line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 with parts broken away in elevation. FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section of lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to FIGURE 1, numeral 1t) represents the 3,379,379 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 ICC apparatus generally and comprises a gear case 11 and impeller case 12, a coupling unit 14, a housing 16 for an oscillating link mechanism which housing is secured to the front face of the impeller case and a stationary collar 17. As illustrated for purposes of description only the tank washing apparatus is mounted by suspending the housing for rotation of the housing about a vertical axis while the nozzles, supported by the housing, partially rotate or oscillate about a horizontal axis. It is to be understood, however, that in operation the longitudinal axis of the housing may be rotated or positioned at any degree off the vertical, or oriented in any position with respect thereto, as a function among other factors of the geometric contigurations of the interior of the tank and the degree or intensity of washing desired on various areas within the vessel. The axes of oscillation of the nozzles are in the same plane, which plane is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the housing. These axes of nozzle oscillations are displaced from the axis of rotation of the housing and all three axes may be positioned irrxany attitude or orientation for effective operation. i

Cleaning fluid is introduced through inlet tube or conduit 18 which fluid passes by varies 20 which are rigidly aixed to the interior of the impeller case 12. The cleaning fluid then passes by varies 24 causing them to rotate. Vanes 24 are rigidly secured to a vertical depending shaft 22. A worm 26 is rigidly affixed to the lower end of shaft 22. While shaft 22 is shown as a single element it may comprise an upper and lower section, keyed together so as to permit the removal of the lower gear case 11 from the impeller case 12. Vanes 24 are contained within a chamber 25 of the impeller case. Worm 26 intermeshes with a worm wheel 28. Thus, a flowing duid rotates varies 2d which, in turn, rotate worm wheel 28. Aflixedly secured to worm wheel 2S is a first horizontal cross shaft 30 on one end of which is secured a pinion 32. Pinion 32 meshes with and drives gear 34 which is mounted on a second horizontal cross shaft 36. Shaft 36 has mounted on the left end thereof a pinion 37 and on the right end thereof a bevel gear 38. Pinion 37, affixed to and rotating with, shaft 36, meshes with and drives gear 39 which gear is a driving medium for oscillating the nozzles which will be more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 4 and which will hereinafter be described.

Bevel gear 38 meshes with and drives y'bevel gear 40 which, in turn, rotates vertical shaft 42 which shaft iS journaled into an enlarged portion of the side walls of the impeller case 12 and coupling unit 14. The upper end of vertical shaft 42 carries a pinion 44 that meshes with a rin-g gear 46 which ring gear is lixedly secured to the stationary collar unit 17. Thus, the rotating vanes 24 rotate shaft 22. The rotation of shaft 22 rotates worm 26 which rotates worm wheel 28, which rotates shaft 30. Shaft 30 rotates pinion 32 which rotates gear 34, which in turn, rotates second cross shaft 36. Shaft 36 rotates bevel gears 38 and 40 thereby rotating vertical shaft 42 and pinion gear 44 causing the complete apparatus 10 to rotate about its vertical axis on bearing 48. Ring gear 46 is rigidly attached to stationary collar 17 and pinion 44 walks around it causing Ithe rotation of the housing.

The water, after passing vanes 24, passes into chamber 25 which is defined by bottom 59, annular wall 52 and front face 56. A boss 23 extends upwardly from bottom wa-ll 50 of chamber 25 and acts as a bearing surface for vertical shaft 22. The water passes through axial bore 74 and `through nozzle assembly and is discharged as will be hereinafter described. Leg assembly 66 communicates between chamber 2S and the nozzle assembly. The end o-f sleeve 72 hereinafter described is shown at 80. Sleeve 72 has an annular soilid portion 78. Numeral 82 designates a right angle dependent leg of nozzle assembly 60 while passageway 84 is shown as the conduit in nozzle 86. The [housing 16 has an enclosure plate 103 and bolts 104 and legs 105 adapted to secure the housing to the impeller casing 12. The end of a 4square shaft 120 is shown, the operation of which will be hereinafter described in conjunction with rocker 142A.

Reference is specifically made to impeller case 12, (FIGURE 3), which has a bottom wal-l 50, an annular side wall 52, a front face 54 and recessed large portion 56. 'llhese elements 50, 52 and 56 define the area of chamber 25. A boss 23 extends upwardly from bottom wall 50 and acts as a bearing surface for vertical shaft 22. The apparatus comprises two oscillating nozzle assemblies generally indicated by 60. T-he annular wal-l 52 of the impeller case has bores, or openings 62, which receive a leg 66 attached thereto of a T-shaped housing indicated as 64. It will be lunderstood that both the left-hand and right-hand nozzles are alike, except left-hand and right-hand operation, but only one will -be described. Passageway 68 in leg assembly 66 communicates with chamber 25. The other leg of T- shaped housing 64 is indicated at 70 which acts as a bearing for hollow rocker sleeve 72.

The axial bore 74 in 72 has an arcuate opening 76 registering with passageway 68 of 66. This opening 76 will be more clearly seen in FIGURE 4. The angular position of the hollow sleeve 72 and arcuate opening 76 relative to passageway 68 is of the same full line position of the right-hand nozzle shown in FIGURE 2. When the righthand nozzle shown in FIGURE 2 is rotated counterclockwise from its full line position to the dot-dash position sleeve 72 will rotate counterclockwise the same angular distance as the nozzle so that the arcuate slot 76 is always in registration wtih the passageway 68 to permit the passage of iiu'id therethrough. While an arcuate opening 76 is illustrated it is to be understood other equivalent means may be used such as a slotted perforated lsleeve assembly, thus making the right and left-hand nozzles interchangeable.

This can be vseen more clearly in FIGURE 3 wherein the front end of sleeve 72 has an annular solid portion 78 at a reduced stud 80 integral with 78. Stud 80 is adjustably keyed to the rocker arm to be described hereafter. The forward end of sleeve 72 has a right angle depending leg 82 to w-hich the nozzle 86 is secured. (See [FIGURE 1.) Leg 82 has passageway 84 (continuation of 74) communicating with passageway in nozzle S6 not shown.

As seen more particularly in FIGURE 3, the rear end of the sleeve 72 is closed at 88. rllherefore, the liquid from chamber 25 goes through passageway 68 of the T-shaped housing 64 through arcuate slot 76 of sleeve 72 then through passageways 74 and 84 of sleeve 72 and out through nozzle tip 86.

Seen in FIGURE 3, sleeve 72 .at its forward end has a flange 73. A bushing 94 is placed between flange 73 and forward `face of housing 64. At the rear end of housing 64 another Ibushing 94 is placed. The rear end 88 of sleeve 72 is threaded at 90 on which a nut 92 .is threaded to sandwich the two bushings 94, one between flange 73 and the forward end of housing 64 and the other between nut 92 and the rear end of housing 64. A locking screw 93 secures the nut Ito the threaded portion of sleeve 72. Therefore, it can be readily seen that sleeve 72 can rock within bearing surface of housing 64 and bushings 94.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, reference will now be made to the nozzle oscillating mechanism. Mechanism housing 16 has side walls 100, a rear wall 102 and an enclosure plate 103, secured to the side walls by bolts 104. The rear wall 102 has legs 105 through which bolts 106 mount the housing to the front face 54 of the impeller case. The rear wall 102 also has openings 108 through which the annular portion 78 of sleeve 72 is journaled.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, the front face 54 of impeller housing 1-2 has an annular recess 114 to accept 4 ithe drive gear 39. Gear 39 is carried by a hub 116 between c-washers 1117 and secured thereto by key 118. Hub 116 has a square opening 119 to receive a square shaft 120. Shaft 120 has an annular portion 122 at the rear and is journaled in bearing 124 which Vbearing is positioned within portion 56 of impeller case 12. The forward end of square shaft .120 carries a washer and nut 126.

Pinion 37 (FIG. 2) is rotated by the cleaning fluid by way of the gear train previously described and drives gear 39 and hub 1116 which, in turn, will continuously drive square shaft 120. Mounted on shaft 120 are two cranks or eccentrics indicated as and 130A. Crank 130 as viewed from FIGURE 2 will oscillate left-hand nozzle and crank 130A will -oscillate the right-hand nozzle. It will be understood that both the left-hand crank and the right-hand crank are identical working in opposite directions. Therefore, reference will only be made to the lefthand crank and the right-hand crank having similar parts will have similar numbers. The crank assembly comprises a crank journal 130 and a crank coupler 1-36. The crank journal 130 has a sqquare opening 134 to receive the square shaft 120 and a flange portion 132. The amount of movement because of eccentricity is indicated on the left-hand side of FIGURE 2 from the full line position to the dot-dash position. The journal 130 rides within a complemen'tary recess 138 in coupler 136.

The square opening 134 is spaced from the center 131 of the journal 130 a distance to determine the stroke of oscillation. This distance is indicated by a pitch circle RC. Thus, by altering this distance the amplitude of oscillation may be altered the desired degree. A preferred amplitude of oscillation is from about 45 to 60. The extreme end of coupler 136 receives a pivot stud 140 connecting same to rocker 142. Rocker arm 142 has a set screw 144 to secure same to end 80 of sleeve 72. FIGURE 2 shows the minimum and maximum angular distance of oscillation from a vertical position to an angular position. While FIGURE 2 shows the nozzle oscillating from a vertical position to` a number degrees off vertical, it is to be understood that by loosening and adjusting the set screw 144 the oscillation of the nozzles may be from X number of degrees off vertical to X number -ly degrees olf vertical. The nozzles thus may be set to oscillate from as shown in FIGURE 2 to l80-y etc.

The present apparatus is particularly adapted for securing the desired pattern of washing which will give the most beneficial results. The tineness of the pattern may be determined generally by the number of teeth employed in the nozzle gear drive 39 and in the stationary ring gear element 46. If the teeth are closely spaced generally the pattern will be finer. A very desirable pattern is one where the number of teeth on the nozzle gear drive is 63 and the number of teeth on the stationary ring gear is 64. The pattern is generally determined by having a different number of teeth on these respective elements. The number of teeth difference may range from one to tive or ten or more. Generally, it is preferred that the number of teeth on the nozzle gear drive vary `from about 40 to 120 and that the number of teeth on the stationary ring gear 46 vary in the range from about 120 to 40.

Thus, the present invention is concerned with a tank washing apparatus wherein a selected area or areas within the tank may be washed and cleansed by the adjustment of the nozzles of the apparatus as described. The present apparatus will save time, duid and heat and will readily remove bottom residues by keeping bottoms stirred up so the heavier deposits can be readily pumped out. The present apparatus keeps residues free from bottoms and thus also secures a better and quicker stripping of the bottoms of the tanks than when they are cleansed by conventional methods. The present apparatus will concentrate the streams on the selected portions of the tank such as the bottom portions and will secure a maximum flow of fluid thereover. Also, when special attention is required on other areas within the tank such as behind structural members and the like, the present directional washer can be used to clean only the area requiring attention. Also, by proper orientation, the nozzles can be made to wash only the underside of the deck and the like and may be readily adjusted to secure other benets such as firei ghting benefits and will also reduce corrosion by not overwashing after cleansing has been secured. Thus, it is evident that since selected areas within the tank can be washed to the exclusion of other areas within the tank, the present apparatus is particularly adapted for cleansing open-ended tanks such as those having no roof structure.

What is claimed is:

It. Apparatus for washing selected areas within a storage vessel which comprises: (l) a housing assembly cornprising an upper stationary collar, a coupling unit positioned below and rotatably mounted with respect to said stationary collar, an impeler case positioned below said coupling unit, and a gear case positioned below said impeller case; (2) a first conduit passing through said assembly into a compartment within said impeller case; (3) a rst upright shaft concentrically disposed within said assembly and extending therethrough, said rst shaft at the upper end thereof having varies attached thereto within said coupling unit and being further characterized by having a worm gear attached thereto at its lower end within said gear case; (4) means for passing fluid through said first conduit by said vanes thereby causing said first shaft to rotate; (5) a worm wheel meshing with said worm gear thereby causing said worm wheel to rotate when said worm gear rotates, said worrn wheel mounted on; (6) a first cross shaft which is perpendicular to said -rst upright shaft and in an offset plane; (7) a first pinion afxed to one end of said first cross shaft and meshing7 with; (8) a gear wheel drive mounted on; (9) a second cross shaft which is characterized by having at the one end thereof a second pinion and at the other end thereof a rst beveled gear, said first beveled gear meshing with a; (l0) a second beveled gear, the axis of rotation of which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first beveled gear, said second beveled gear being rigidly attached to; (11) a second upright shaft parallel to said first upright shaft, said second shaft being characterized by having at its upper end thereof a third pinion which meshes with; (12) a ring gear rigidly attached to the inner surface of said coupling unit; (13) a bearing positioned between said coupling unit and said stationary collar whereby as said third pinion is rotated, the coupling unit, the impeller case and the gear case will rotate with respect to said stationary collar about the longitudinal axis of said assembly, said second pinion at the one end of said second cross shaft meshing with a; (14) nozzle gear drive, said nozzle gear drive characterized by being mounted concentrically on a square shaft; (15) two crank arms eccentrically mounted on said square shaft; (16) two mating couplers cooperating respectively with each of said crank arms; 17) rocker arms attached to the ends of said couplers and to ends of a; (18) pair of nozzle assemblies, and (19) second conduit means communicating from said compartment to said nozzles whereby as said gear drive 4rotates said nozzles will oscillate through predetermined arcs.

2. Apparatus as dened by claim l wherein each of said nozzle assemblies comprises a hollow rocker sleeve actuated by said rocker arm, the longitudinal axis of said rocker sleeve being perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of said first upright shaft, and a nozzle tip perpendicular to said hollow rocker sleeve.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein said nozzle tip oscillates through an arc from a position parallel to said rst upright shaft to a position of a predetermined number of degrees oli said parallel position.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said nozzle tip oscillates through an arc of about 60 degrees.

5. Apparatus as dened by claim 4l wherein said hollow rocker sleeve is ahxed to said rocker arm by a set screw means whereby said nozzle tip may be adjusted to oscillare through any predetermined arc about the circurnference.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 599,846 3/1898 Judge 239-242 1,156,612 10/1915 Morrell 239-227 1,307,634 6/1919 Morse 239-227 2,239,198 4/1941 Ostling et al. 239-227 2,480,889 9/1949 Swift 239-244 X 2,917,243 12/ 1959 Lione 239-227 2,991,203 7/1961 C. in t Veld et al. 239-236 X M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

V. C. WILKS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR WASHING SELECTED AREAS WITHIN A STORAGE VESSEL WHICH COMPRISES: (1) A HOUSING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN UPPER STATIONARY COLLAR, A COUPLING UNIT POSITIONED BELOW AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID STATIONARY COLLAR, AN IMPELLER CASE POSITIONED BELOW SAID COUPLING UNIT, AND A GEAR CASE POSITIONED BELOW SAID IMPELLER CASE; (2) A FIRST CONDUIT PASSING THROUGH SAID ASSEMBLY INTO A COMPARTMENT WITHIN SAID IMPELLER CASE; (3) A FIRST UPRIGHT SHAFT CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID ASSEMBLY AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, SAID FIRST SHAFT AT THE UPPER END THEREOF HAVING VANES ATTACHED THERETO WITHIN SAID COUPLING UNIT AND BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING A WORM GEAR ATTACHED THERETO AT ITS LOWER END WITHIN SAID GEAR CASE; (4) MEANS FOR PASSING FLUID THROUGH SAID FIRST CONDUIT BY SAID VANES THEREBY CAUSING SAID FIRST SHAFT TO ROTATE; (5) A WORM WHEEL MESHING WITH SAID WORM GEAR THEREBY CAUSING SAID WORM WHEEL TO ROTATE WHEN SAID WORM GEAR ROTATES, SAID WORM WHEEL MOUNTED ON; (6) A FIRST CROSS SHAFT WHICH IS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIRST UPRIGHT SHAFT AND IN AN OFFSET PLANE; (7) A FIRST PINION AFFIXED TO ONE END OF SAID FIRST CROSS SHAFT AND MESHING WITH; (8) A GEAR WHEEL DRIVE MOUNTED ON; (9) A SECOND CROSS SHAFT WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING AT THE ONE END THEREOF A SECOND PINION AND AT THE OTHER END THEREOF A FIRST BEVELED GEAR, SAID FIRST BEVELED GEAR MESHING WITH A; (10) A SECOND BEVELED GEAR, THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF WHICH IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID FIRST BEVELED GEAR, SAID SECOND BEVELED GEAR BEING RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO; (11) A SECOND UPRIGHT SHAFT PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST UPRIGHT SHAFT, SAID SECOND SHAFT BEING CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING AT ITS UPPER END THEREOF A THIRD PINION WHICH MESHES WITH; (12) A RING GEAR RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID COUPLING UNIT; (13) A BEARING POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID COUPLING UNIT AND SAID STATIONARY COLLAR WHEREBY AS SAID THIRD PINION IS ROTATED, THE COUPLING UNIT, THE IMPELLER CASE AND THE GEAR CASE WILL ROTATE WITH RESPECT TO SAID STATIONARY COLLAR ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID ASEMBLY, SAID SECOND PINION AT THE ONE END OF SAID SECOND CROSS SHAFT MESHING WITH A; (14) NOZZLE GEAR DRIVE, SAID NOZZLE GEAR DRIVE CHARACTERIZED BY BEING MOUNTED CONCENTRICALLY ON A SQUARE SHAFT; (15) TWO CRANK ARMS ECCENTRICALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SQUARE SHAFT; (16) TWO MATING COUPLERS COOPERATING RESPECTIVELY WITH EACH OF SAID CRANK ARMS; (17) ROCKER ARMS ATTACHED TO THE ENDS OF SAID COUPLERS AND TO ENDS OF A; (18) PAIR OF NOZZLE ASSEMBLIES, AND (19) SECOND CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING FROM SAID COMPARTMENT TO SAID NOZZLES WHEREBY AS SAID GEAR DRIVE ROTATES SAID NOZZLES WILL OSCILLATE THROUGH PREDETERMINED ARCS. 